YA'LL!!!!! I KNOW!!! I really do.  I know what you've been saying - where in the world is Monique and new episodes of Soapbox Shenanigans?  It's taken me a minute to get right.  In this episode I'm talking about fear and how it has been a driving force in my life over the last couple years and most specifically the last couple of months.  It is pervasive and wiggled its way into all areas of my life - personal, professional, and health wise.  I'm giving the raw, unedited, un-sanitized audio - you might hear me cry, you might hear me laugh, you might even hear me cuss - but I felt that you deserved vulnerability and truth!  I'm not always ok and that's ok!  So listen, sit with me, feel the love I have for you and know - I'm chasing after peach and fighting fear because that is not how I want my life to be defined.  I want to be known as a fighter and a WINNER!  

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!! This episode is dedicated my 38th year of life and the things that I've learned, the intentions that I've set and and the growth that I've had.  I'm an ever-evolving human and I just want to be better than I was the day before!  I'm going to be out in these streets today collecting my free stuff from all the stores that give birthday gifts lol and being grateful for life!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME, I'M 39 TODAY!

Mental wellness is a topic that a lot of us are uncomfortable talking about.  We tend to shy away from it, act like it's not a problem and don't want to walk in our truth.  Unfortunately, there is a stigma that we all have to deal with that says seeking support for mental wellness is problematic and something "crazy" people do or equates to you being broken.  In this episode we're going to dive into a conversation with Travis Hutchins of TH Talks Podcast surrounding men's mental wellness and try to tackle the question - what can men gain from therapy? Some of the topics that we'll touch on are:

Suicide preventions/statistics on male suicides.

• 4 times as many men die by suicide than women
• 6 million men in the US with depression
• Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for men under the age of 45

Toxic masculinity - the culture and lived experiences that have led to men unable to express emotions.

• Women not giving men space to be vulnerable. Share their emotions, vent, talk out situations, or God forbid cry.
• Men directing their unsolved emotions / anger towards others (usually romantic partners)
• Defining what is means to be a man in today’s society

The issue with accessibility for therapy and mental health Finding a therapist

Risk Factors for Mental Health Disorders

• Social Isolation
• Substance Abuse,
• Unemployments,
• Military Trauma
• Single - Breaks up / Childhood Trauma

What people can do to help with men’s mental health

• Build a support system
• Allow people to communicate without weaponizing their emotions
• Encourage mindfulness/ healthier lifestyle choices
• Reshaping the conversation about mental health and seeking treatment

Sources for Statistics:

https://www.mhanational.org/infographic-mental-health-men

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/leading-causes-of-death-in-men#The-wider-view-of-male-health

https://www.nami.org/NAMI/media/NAMI-Media/Infographics/NAMI_Suicide_2020_FINAL.pdf

We’re back at it with Aliyah from House of A Financial diving deep into the world of budgeting, the emotional and mental adjustment that happens when you go from broke to bougie, and the high you get from setting up auto payments. You won’t want to miss the jewels we’re dropping on this episode!

Ya'll know how I feel about my money.  We already talked about how I'm frugal bougie and like luxury on the cheap.  The next two episodes are a two part series on personal finance where we chat with Aliyah Wooten, founder of House of A financial.  In this episode we talk about what our families taught about money - cautionary tales and rules to live by - student loans, credit cards and scores and a lot more!

I told ya'll I'd come back to you and chronicle the hair misadventures I've had in Tulsa trying to find someone to braid my hair.  Also, let's just talk about how hard it is to start over in a new place when you require everyday maintenance services for your hair, nails, and eyebrows. It ain't easy keeping your regular degular look together let alone when you trying to serve LEWKS!!! Also, as for me in MY HOUSE, Imma need a local church to attend, that is always a struggle when you're starting fresh.  Thank goodness I had help upfront!

Your girl made a big change!  I moved from the east coast to the midwest and I'm loving my life right now.  Listen to catch up on all that's been happening over the last couple of months and learn how I made Tulsa, OK my new home.